# List of California State University, Long Beach people

The following is a list of notable people associated with California State University, Long Beach. CSULB has more than 320,000 alumni as of 2018.

## Alumni
### Entertainment

* Millicent Borges Accardi: poet and writer, NEA winner
* Paul "Coy" Allen: television director, Sam & Cat; television producer, R&B Divas: Atlanta, R&B Divas: Los Angeles; music video director
* Richard Bach: fiction and nonfiction author, Jonathan Livingston Seagull
* Tony Baxter: Disney Imagineering executive
* Guy Bee: director of ER
* Daniele Bolelli: author
* Jan Burke: mystery author, 2000 Edgar Award for Best Novel
* Bobby Burgess: actor and dancer on the TV shows Mickey Mouse Club (the original series), The Lawrence Welk Show, and The Donna Reed Show
* Chris Carter: creator and producer of the X-Files
* Agnes de Mille: award-winning choreographer, niece of Cecil B. DeMille
* John Dykstra: winner of two Academy Awards for special effects
* Jonathan Fahn: voice/TV/film actor; film and stage director, producer, and writer
* Matt Gourley: actor and comedian; co-creator of Superego
* Donna Hilbert: poet and writer
* Mark Steven Johnson: director of Hollywood thriller Daredevil; writer of Grumpy Old Men and sequel Grumpier Old Men
* Joe Johnston: director of Jurassic Park III and Jumanji
* Bob Kevoian: radio host
* J. F. Lawton: author of Pretty Woman
* Raymond Lee: actor
* Steve Martin: actor and comedian
* Tim Minear: television writer and producer, X-Files, Angel, Firefly, Wonderfalls
* Manny Montana: actor, Good Girls
* John Roland: longtime reporter and anchor for WNYW in New York City 1969–2004
* Stu Rosen: winner of 10 Emmy awards
* Steve Ryan: author, game creator, syndicated puzzle columnist, TV game show historian and creator, Blockbusters
* Penelope Spheeris: film director, producer and screenwriter best known for Wayne's World and The Decline of Western Civilization trilogy
* Steven Spielberg: filmmaker, student 1965–1969 and 2001–2002
* David Twohy: author of Terminal Velocity and The Fugitive
* Cristina Valenzuela: animation and video game voice actress
* Maitland Ward: actress, Boy Meets World
* Bill Wasserzieher (B.A. and M.A.): music and film critic, fiction writer
* Jessica Williams: comedian and correspondent on The Daily Show
* Stan Winston: special effects designer
* Bob Woods: actor, One Life to Live
* Linda Woolverton: screenwriter, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King
* Jennifer Yuh Nelson: animation film director and storyboard artist
* Joon Park: singer and entertainer, member of South Korean group g.o.d

### Music

* Dave Alvin: singer-songwriter: founder of The Blasters, former member of X
* Arleen Auger: opera singer
* John Bettis: songwriter, has 26 gold and 10 platinum records
* Larry Carlton: jazz fusion guitarist
* Richard and Karen Carpenter: The Carpenters, pop duo
* Melissa Hasin: cellist
* Bobby Hatfield: half of The Righteous Brothers and Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee
* Greg Kriesel: bass player for The Offspring
* Bill Medley: half of The Righteous Brothers
* Bradley Nowell: lead singer and guitarist of rock band Sublime
* Jae Park: member of the South Korean boy band Day6
* Joon Park: member of the South Korean boy band g.o.d
* John Patitucci: Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist
* Basil Poledouris: film composer
* Jenni Rivera: singer-songwriter
* Mark Turner: jazz saxophonist
* Heather Youmans: singer-songwriter

### Government and politics

* Kathy Augustine (M.P.A.): Nevada State Controller (1999–2006)
* Patricia Bates (B.S.): serving in the California State Senate
* Ian Calderon (B.A. 2008): member of the California State Assembly
* Debbie Cook (B.S.): Mayor of Huntington Beach
* Kevin Drum (B.A. 1981): political blogger and columnist
* Robert Garcia (B.A. 2002): U.S. Congressman and former Mayor of Long Beach
* George Gascón (B.A. 1977): Los Angeles County District Attorney, former District Attorney of San Francisco, former police chief
* Brad Gates (B.S., M.S.): 11th sheriff of Orange County, California
* Lena Gonzalez (B.A.): serving in the California State Senate
* Eklil Ahmad Hakimi (M.S. 1998): former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan
* Tim Leslie (M.P.A.): California State Senator
* Kevin McCarty (B.A.): Mayor of Sacramento
* John Moorlach (B.A. 1977): California State Senator
* Patrick O'Donnell (B.A., M.P.A.): member of the California State Assembly
* Jenny Oropeza (B.S.): California State Senator
* Curt Pringle (B.A., M.P.A.): Speaker of the California State Assembly and Mayor of Anaheim
* Dana Rohrabacher (B.A. 1969): United States Congressman
* Gloria Romero (B.A., M.A.): California State Senate Majority leader
* Wade Sanders: Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and convicted sex offender
* John G. Schmitz (M.A. 1960): United States Congressman and 1972 American Independent Party candidate for President of the United States
* Kelly Seyarto (M.P.A.): member of the California State Assembly
* Edward Ulloa (B.A.): attorney and former criminal prosecutor

### Sports

* Guy Baker: head coach of the USA Women's water polo team; led the team to three consecutive Olympic medal ceremonies (silver 2000; bronze 2004; silver 2008)
* Gil Castillo: amateur wrestler; retired MMA fighter
* Amber Corwin: figure skater and costume designer
* Paul Goydos: PGA golfer
* John Mallinger: PGA golfer
* Pat McCormick: four-time Olympic gold medalist, won both the platform and springboard events, in both (1952 and 1956)
* Mark O'Meara: champion golfer
* Tim Shaw: Olympic silver medalist 1976 and 1984 (water polo), Sullivan Award Winner
* Dwight Stones: two-time Olympic high jump bronze medalist (1972 and 1976); sports commentator

#### Baseball

* Abe Alvarez: pitcher, Palfinger Reggio Emilia (Italy)
* John Bowker: first baseman, San Francisco Giants
* Brent Cookson: retired outfielder, Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers
* Mark Cresse: bullpen coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
* Bobby Crosby: shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates
* Matt Duffy: infielder, Tampa Bay Rays
* Jarren Duran: outfielder, Boston Red Sox
* Danny Espinosa: second baseman, Washington Nationals
* Marco Estrada: pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
* Mike Gallo: pitcher, MLB free agent
* Jason Giambi: retired first baseman, Colorado Rockies
* Chris Gomez: shortstop, MLB free agent
* Jared Hughes: retired pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
* Evan Longoria: third baseman, Tampa Bay Rays
* Paul McAnulty: outfielder, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
* Cesar Ramos: pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
* Jeremy Reed: outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays
* Termel Sledge: outfielder, played for Montreal Expos, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres
* Steve Trachsel: pitcher, MLB free agent
* Troy Tulowitzki: shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays
* Jason Vargas: pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
* Nick Vincent (born 1986): pitcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization
* Jered Weaver: pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
* Vance Worley: pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

#### Basketball

* Andrew Betts: Charlotte Hornets 1998 draftee
* Deishuan Booker (born 1996): basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Cindy Brown: Olympic gold medalist (1988), ABL (Seattle Reign), and WNBA (Detroit Shock)
* James Ennis: Miami Heat
* George Gervin: leading scorer four times in a row with the San Antonio Spurs
* Lucious Harris: Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers
* Juaquin Hawkins: Houston Rockets
* Craig Hodges: Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls 1991 and 92 NBA champion
* Gabe Levin (born 1994): American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Mike Montgomery: head coach, University of California, Berkeley
* Ed Ratleff: Houston Rockets, Olympic silver medalist (1972)
* Bryon Russell: Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets
* Jerry Tarkanian: coached Long Beach State 1968–1973, later at UNLV and Fresno State
* Chuck Terry: Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, New York Nets
* Penny Toler: first player to score a basket in the WNBA, head coach and general manager of the Los Angeles Sparks
* Michael Wiley: San Antonio Spurs
* Morlon Wiley: assistant coach, Orlando Magic; younger brother of Michael Wiley

#### American football

* George Allen: head coach, coach of the Washington Redskins, coached the Los Angeles Rams
* Russ Bolinger: NFL offensive lineman
* Willie Brown: NFL, NFL Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders' defensive back
* Dan Bunz: NFL, San Francisco 49ers' linebacker
* Terrell Davis: NFL, Denver Broncos' football running back
* Jim Fassel: former offensive coordinator of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and former head coach of the New York Giants
* Steve Folsom: NFL tight end
* Jeff Graham: NFL quarterback
* Mike Horan: NFL, Denver Broncos' punter
* David Howard: NFL linebacker
* Lynn Hoyem: NFL offensive lineman
* Ron Johnson: football player
* Charles Lockett: NFL wide receiver
* Mike McCoy: Coach, San Diego Chargers
* Terry Metcalf: NFL, Arizona Cardinals' running back
* Dean Miraldi: NFL, offensive lineman
* Billy Parks: NFL, wide receiver
* Ben Rudolph: NFL, defensive lineman
* Mark Seay: NFL, San Diego Chargers' wide receiver
* Jeff Severson: NFL, safety

#### Rowing

* Joan Lind Van Blom: Olympic rower; silver medal in single sculls, 1976 Montreal; silver medal in coxed quad sculls, 1984 Los Angeles; first woman to receive Olympic medal in the sport for the US

#### Volleyball

* Tara Cross-Battle: Olympic volleyball player
* Bob Ctvrtlik: Olympic gold medalist (1988), volleyball, IOC member
* Tayyiba Haneef-Park: Olympic silver medalist (2008), volleyball
* Brent Hilliard: Head Coach, University of San Diego, Olympic bronze medal (1992), Volleyball National Championship and NCAA Player of the Year (1992)
* Tom Hoff: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball
* David Lee: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball
* Misty May-Treanor: Olympic gold medalist (2004,2008 and 2012), women's beach volleyball
* Danielle Scott-Arruda: Olympic silver medalist (2008), volleyball
* Scott Touzinsky: Olympic gold medalist (2008), volleyball

### Visual arts

* Chris Bachalo: illustrator, DC and Marvel Comics (X-Men)
* John Cederquist (born 1946): sculptor, BA in 1969, MA in 1971
* Cathy Cooper: stylist, painter, model
* Helen Feyler-Switz: sculptor, painter, art instructor
* Alex Gardner (born 1987): figurative painter
* Roberta Gregory (born 1953): comic book writer
* Seonna Hong (born 1973; B.A. in art): painter
* Gerhardt Knodel (born 1940; M.F.A 1970): textile artist, installation artist, educator
* Gilbert "Magú" Luján (1940–2011; B.A. in art 1969): Chicano sculptor, muralist and painter
* Betye Saar (born 1926): assemblage artist
* Shag (Josh Agle; born 1962): painter and designer
* Greg Simkins (born 1979; B.A. in studio art): painter
* Linda Vallejo (born 1951): artist known for painting, sculpture and ceramics

### Journalism

* Scott Stantis: editorial cartoonist for The Chicago Tribune, creator of the comic strips The Buckets and Prickly City

### Academics

* Erin Gruwell: inspiring teacher from Freedom Writers, the book and movie
* Robert W. Hillman: Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus, University of California, Davis.
* Robin Kelley: Distinguished Professor and Gary B. Nash Chair in U.S. History, University of California, Los Angeles
* Lee Mallory: poet, author and retired English professor at Santa Ana College
* Dennis J. Murray: President of Marist College
* John Sailhamer: academic and theologian

### Other

* J. Jon Bruno: the Episcopal Bishop of Los Angeles
* Linda Burhansstipanov MSPH, DrPH: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma member, public health educator and researcher focused on Native American cancer care and support
* Neil Campbell: biologist/author
* Ronald Chagoury: co-founder and CEO of the Chagoury Group
* Libby Gill: leadership speaker, executive coach and author
* Ken Hoang: professional Super Smash Bros. player, with the nickname "King of Smash"
* Palmer Lucky: Creator of the Oculus Rift/Ranked #26 on Forbes' 2015 list of America's richest entrepreneurs under 40
* Alex Meruelo: billionaire owner of the Meruelo Group, the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL, Fuji Food, multiple radio stations, casinos and Colom Island
* John Platt: Microsoft researcher, astronomer
* J. Warner Wallace: homicide detective and Christian apologist
* Laura Yeager: U.S. Army general

### Fictional

* The character Alan Harper (Jon Cryer) on the sitcom Two and a Half Men graduated from CSULB. This was stated in the episode "The Salmon Under My Sweater".

## Faculty

* Phil Alvin: taught mathematics at CSULB; member of The Blasters band
* Xiaolan Bao: professor of history
* Vera Barstow: violinist and teacher
* Verne Carlson: taught cinematography, author and cinematographer
* August Coppola: Professor of Comparative Literature
* Karla Diaz: school of art
* Fitzhugh Dodson: taught in the Psychology department from 1962
* Robert Eisenman: Professor of Middle East Religions and Archaeology and Director of the Institute for the Study of Judeo-Christian Origins at California State University, Long Beach; Visiting Senior Member of Linacre College, Oxford University; expert on the Dead Sea Scrolls
* Karen L. Gould (born 1948): President of Brooklyn College
* Jack Green: professor of the Geological Sciences; a volcanologist and lunar planetary scientist
* Steve Horn: Professor Emeritus, former President of the University; 5-term former U.S. Congressman
* Maulana Karenga: former Head of Black Studies Dept., author and activist best known as the founder of the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa
* Alan Lowenthal: professor of community psychology, State senator
* Kevin MacDonald: evolutionary psychologist professor, anti-semitic conspiracy theorist, white supremacist
* Ilan Mitchell-Smith: English professor, former child actor
* Clifton Snider: poet, novelist, literary critic specializing in Jungian and Queer Criticism
* Shira Tarrant: author and cultural critic; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department